More Capital Region eyesores — reader suggestions

Last month, I posted a selection of some of the most egregious local eyesores and asked for suggestions of additional ghastly Capital Region sights.

Here are the results, culled from the more than 100 reader comments on the last post. Many of these eyesores were nominated more than once. As always, comments are welcomed.

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Several readers nominated Albany's love-it-or-hate it Empire State Plaza. To some, it's a symbol of the city, because who can imagine Albany without The Egg? To others, though, the plaza seems totalitarian and is a symbol of discredited city planning practices. less

Several readers nominated Albany's love-it-or-hate it Empire State Plaza. To some, it's a symbol of the city, because who can imagine Albany without The Egg? To others, though, the plaza seems totalitarian and ... more

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Readers mentioned the old Sebastian's building, a little pink shack of a structure along Route 7 in Colonie. This eyesore, however, has since been demolished.

Readers mentioned the old Sebastian's building, a little pink shack of a structure along Route 7 in Colonie. This eyesore, however, has since been demolished.

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The salt pile looms at the Hudson waterfront south of downtown Troy, making this eyesore easy to spot from Interstate 787. To detractors, it's another example of how the riverfront is misused and unappreciated. less

The salt pile looms at the Hudson waterfront south of downtown Troy, making this eyesore easy to spot from Interstate 787. To detractors, it's another example of how the riverfront is misused and ... more

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One reader described Central Avenue thusly: "That is one bleak strip of car dealerships and strip malls. Imagine it in late November, under rainy gray skies. Or in February, with piles of dirty snow. At five o’clock in the evening, as the cars crawl home in the dark…" less

One reader described Central Avenue thusly: "That is one bleak strip of car dealerships and strip malls. Imagine it in late November, under rainy gray skies. Or in February, with piles of dirty snow. At five ... more

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Complaints about the Harriman State Office Campus are similar to what's said about Empire State Plaza or the uptown version of UAlbany. Critics see it as sterile and bleak -- and overly devoted to the car.

Complaints about the Harriman State Office Campus are similar to what's said about Empire State Plaza or the uptown version of UAlbany. Critics see it as sterile and bleak -- and overly devoted to the car.

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Ellsworth Commons dominates Route 9 in Malta -- and has dominated debate over the future of the Saratoga County town. To some, the project is out of scale with its surroundings.

Ellsworth Commons dominates Route 9 in Malta -- and has dominated debate over the future of the Saratoga County town. To some, the project is out of scale with its surroundings.

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The intersection of Routes 4 and 43 in North Greenbush was planned a retail hotspot. But the construction of two shopping centers there have stalled, making the intersection a symbol of the recessions effects.

The intersection of Routes 4 and 43 in North Greenbush was planned a retail hotspot. But the construction of two shopping centers there have stalled, making the intersection a symbol of the recessions effects.

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Many in the Capital Region have fond memories of the Starlite Theater in Colonie. But the facility has fallen into deep disrepair and is set to be replaced by an office park.

Many in the Capital Region have fond memories of the Starlite Theater in Colonie. But the facility has fallen into deep disrepair and is set to be replaced by an office park.

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Wolf Road, anchored by the Times Union on one end and Colonie Center on the other, as an eyesore?! Criticism of the Champs-Elysees of Colonie? Say it ain't so!

Wolf Road, anchored by the Times Union on one end and Colonie Center on the other, as an eyesore?! Criticism of the Champs-Elysees of Colonie? Say it ain't so!

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Two commenters targeted 19th Street in Watervliet. Each said the commercial strip has been hit by too many retail vacancies.

Two commenters targeted 19th Street in Watervliet. Each said the commercial strip has been hit by too many retail vacancies.

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The view of the Albany landfill is none too pleasant from the Thruway and Northway. But the view from atop the garbage pile appears to be lovely...

The view of the Albany landfill is none too pleasant from the Thruway and Northway. But the view from atop the garbage pile appears to be lovely...

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More Capital Region eyesores -- reader suggestions

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Chris Churchill

75 Responses

I cannot believe that a shot of State Street in downtown Albany didn’t make this list. Especially after the city just spent 3 1/2 million dollars to re-renovate the street yet again, chain-sawing glorious pear trees that were previously highlighted in an article here.

All of this amidst the scaffolding that has been up for years with its rotting wood planks, equally torn and rotting canvas covering the roof of a building blowing in the wind every day. Those pretty new iron railings look very nice amidst all that.

How about the building facades at the upper end that have no buildings behind them? That’s a real plus also. Its been what?… years that the eyesores have been there but the beautify State St. funds seemed important to someone. Could those funds have possibly have been used for more important needs like lower property taxes in Albany? How about paving streets or landscaping more impoverished areas with crumbling sidewalks?

Put me in the love the Plaza group.. I think if it was utilized better and had more of a “community” surrounding it people would think of it differently (concerts with the band floating in the pool? street fairs? food competitions? monthly firework show? Movies in the Plaza? not sure).
The architecture is attractive, the egg is amazing and unique, and the whole footprint is well designed. On top of that, it provides a cool and distinct skyline. Maybe the city shouldn’t have stopped with the plaza and promoted the growth of the adjacent neighborhoods with tax breaks or incentives?

Also in Saratoga Springs across from the Public Library on Putnam Street near Congress Park is an old dilapidated warehouse that sticks out like a sore thumb in this otherwise nice part of town. The property has so much potential, but the building has been for sale as long as I can remember. Really a shame that no one has been able to rehab or tear down the building and start from scratch. http://g.co/maps/mdm97

I am probably a lone dissenter, but I really like the state offices. Sure the buildings themselves are dated and uninspired, but you can find a lot of beauty there if you walk the grounds. There are gorgeous stone walls all over, beautiful sidewalks with tree canopies, lovely common areas, a small, but pretty (and muddy!) wooded area…there is a lot of green space and the place is wonderful on the quiet weekends for joggers, cyclists, roller skaters and dog-walkers.

How about the burned out Motel/Apartments on Fuller Rd by the Stewarts Shop. Over four years and counting. With the new ordinance in Colonie which knocked down Sebastians how about this site undergoing a similar treatment.

I once wrote a letter to the T-U about that ship-shaped monstrosity where Fuller meets Washington, the S.S. Eyesore. It’s since become merely a bow to the hideous assemblage of Dr. No buildings behind it, the nanotech campus (where our government is doing micro-scale weapons research disguised as computer chip work, but I didn’t tell you that).

You commented the same thing on the original post, multiple people responded that you can’t see it unless you drive 1 mile down a road that doesn’t go anywhere else, so how the heck could it be an eyesore?

Apparently you have never seen it in person and are just spouting your political opinion – or do you have another explanation?

Route 9 in Latham between Route 155 and Latham Circle. Many of the properties look just fine, but some of the older ones are in desperate need of facelifts, and a lot of greenery. Oh, and throw in that monster of a disgrace, Latham Circle Mall.

The plaza should be at street level, and even im not sure that Albany has the foot traffic to fill it out. Most sides of it are a huge wall, completely harmful to the area.

I recall sitting in the mexican restaurant facing it on Swan street and looking out the window of the restaurant at the 50 foot siege wall with parapets at the top and thinking “who the hell thought that was a good idea”.

The Madison Ave tunnel between the Museum and the Plaza is a disaster too… did they think they were doing a Penn Plaza (NYC) thing there? note: the Penn Plaza overpass has been closed to cars since 9/11 so its a strange vestigial street to cross now….

The only side (out of 4) that almost works is on State Street, but even there its a half level above grade.

In Sum, walk through the Center Square neighborhood or down Broadway in Downtown and then tell me that state plaza functions remotely as well as a real neighborhood. Didnt think so. The towers are fine but the plaza should be reconfigured and infilled whenever the whole plaza needs to be redone. Yes, that could be 50 years from now, but thats the time-cost of breaking a city in the first place.

34 Boenau off of Second avenue. The owner never completly rebuilt after a fire near 7 years ago. The upstairs front a large blue tarp was visible where pre-fire was 3 screened windows for 3 yeaas after the fire.
The backyard fence was broken by kids on the block who used it as playground once it became obvious that the property was vacant and has been on the ground since. The curbside mailbox is broken
and on the ground the pass 3 winters. The block has gone down in general now that more renters and less owner occupied homes but driving up the block 34 Boenau stands out.. Sell the darn thing if you don’t want to keep the property up.

@ #11 – That site on Central Avenue was the home of a depleted uranium plant – National Lead…even if they did erect something new there, I would never go there. Heck, I won’t even go to Appletini’s or the surrounding businesses because I’m skeeved out by it.

I nominate 759 Madison Ave. in Albany, a great old, brick mansion that has been vacant and rotting for many years. It was being offered for sale for a little while last year, but nothing appears to have happened.

I nominate Rt 9 & 20, the Columbia Turnpike. It has fallen victim to many business that have gone under and are left abandoned. Nobody seems to be wanting to start up a new business with these probably now unusable buildings. There’s the old Tegans place, Dave’s (used to be Chubby’s years ago and did well then), the old McDonalds near FunPlex (which I thought Five Guys would do really well there), the old Weathervane, an old gas station (which had the tanks removed already), the old Eckard & Empire Vision, and probably more futher up the road towards Schodack.